Einsteins they're not, the Red Sox are 'idiots'

Now, they have a new nickname, courtesy of outfielder Johnny Damon: The Idiots.

"We are not the cowboys anymore - we are just the idiots this year," Damon said. "So we are going to go out and try to swing the bats, find the holes, and, hopefully, good things happen."

Good things happened last year until the eighth inning in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, when the Red Sox blew a 5-2 lead over the New York Yankees before losing 6-5 in 11 innings.

The Yankees went to the World Series; the Red Sox went home, making it 85 years since they last won the Series.

Now, the Red Sox (or Idiots) are trying again, facing the Anaheim Angels in a best-of-five AL Division Series. They're in position to eliminate the Angels at Fenway Park this weekend and advance to the ALCS against the Yankees or Minnesota Twins.

"We were just a bunch of cowboys out there last year, just enjoying every minute," Damon said. "Now, we know we have something to prove. We don't want to be remembered as a team that, OK, we keep making it to the playoffs, but we keep having tough losses.

"I mean, we want to be known as a team that rewrites the history books."

First-year manager Terry Francona wasn't around last October, but he's seen enough to have an opinion.

"As a group, they are borderline nuts, but when they get out in the field, I think they try to play the game right," he said.

A good team with personality, according to Damon.

"This is definitely the best ballclub I've been on," he said. "I mean, that Oakland ballclub in 2001 was pretty awesome. We were a bunch of frat boys there. This team is a little older, but we have that same attitude. We feel like we can win every game, we feel like we like to have fun, and I think that's why this team is liked by so many people out there.

"You know, the kids watching us out there - we've got the long hair, we've got the cornrows, we got just guys acting like idiots. And I think the fans out there like it."

Damon's hair creeps down his back, and his beard gives him a caveman look. Pitcher Bronson Arroyo sports a cornrow hairstyle.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia had to chuckle when asked about Damon's remarks.